Paris. Even before the start of the Paris Olympics, many rail services have come to a standstill due to attacks targeting the rail network there. Several incidents of arson and attacks took place on France’s high-speed rail network just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. Due to which the traffic system of the host country collapsed for the world’s biggest sporting event. It is being told that due to these alleged attacks, train services are being canceled on many routes. After the attacks, about 800,000 passengers have been affected. Security officials are calling them a big conspiracy of ‘sabotage’.
National train operator SNCF told AFP that SNCF was the victim of several malicious incidents overnight. It said the attacks affected its Atlantic, Northern and Eastern lines. “Arson attacks were launched to damage our facilities,” it said. It said traffic on the affected lines was severely disrupted and would remain so until the weekend as repairs took place.
‘Heinous criminal act’
French Transport Minister Patrice Vergiete described the mass attack on France’s high-speed TGV rail network as a “disgraceful criminal act”. Vergiete said there would be “very serious consequences” for rail traffic throughout the weekend, with connections to northern, eastern and northwestern France cut in half. While Jean-Pierre Farandou, chief executive of rail operator SNCF, said 800,000 passengers had been affected.
A plot to attack failed
A government statement said trains were being rerouted to different tracks but a large number of them had to be cancelled. The southeastern line of Paris was not affected as a plot to attack it was foiled. SNCF has appealed to passengers to postpone their journeys and stay away from train stations.
Tags: 2024 paris olympics, Paris olympics, Paris olympics 2024
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 26, 2024, 14:50 IST